In addition to feelings of physical discomfort, eczema flare-ups can often make you feel self-conscious, which may lead to you wanting to isolate yourself socially.
However, there are strategies you can employ to help alleviate anxiety as you navigate your social life while also taking care of your skin condition.
Read on for advice with tips from Gold Bond on how to manage social anxiety in the midst of an eczema flare-up.
Taking care of your mental and emotional health is just as important as working on the physical aspects of managing the itchy, dry skin that comes with atopic dermatitis (eczema). A
Being stressed about your eczema can also be a vicious cycle: feeling stressed or anxious can lead to more frequent or severe flare-ups, which can then make you feel even more down, which can then lead to another flare-up.
Remember that you are more than your eczema, and it doesn’t define you. Try to add different techniques into your routine to help relax your mind whenever you feel yourself getting anxious:
- Deep breathing: Breathing exercises can help you relax and take your mind off of what’s bothering you.
- Affirmations: Affirmations involve repeating encouraging statements to yourself, which can have a positive effect on your mood.
- Meditation: Connecting with your thoughts and practicing mindfulness may reduce stress. You can also combine meditation with low impact exercises like yoga.
You may want to keep an eczema flare-up quiet, but managing it on your own can be an even lonelier experience.
It’s important to talk with the people around you about what’s going on. When you share how your eczema is affecting you, it allows your loved ones to be there to offer support, whether that’s allowing you to vent, going with you to appointments, or even just offering a sympathetic shoulder to lean on.
If you’re not used to talking about your eczema, you can start by sharing small tidbits, and as you grow more comfortable, you can start sharing more. Remember that your loved ones are there to help and reassure you.
Additionally, if you find that certain activities worsen your eczema, with open communication, you’ll be able to coordinate with your loved ones to choose things to do that won’t further trigger a flare-up.
When you’re feeling anxious, it’s easy to forget about the basics, including your skin care routine. Try your best to keep up with your usual treatments, whether that includes topical measures like creams or any oral or injected medications.
Caring for your skin also includes making certain lifestyle choices, especially as it relates to bathing and clothing. Keep your showers short and avoid using hot water, gently pat yourself dry afterward, and avoid any rough fabrics that could further irritate your skin.
Partner tip
Taking care of your skin is a key part of any eczema regimen, and adding a medicated lotion to your routine is an easy way to get quick relief when you’re having a flare-up.
Gold Bond’s eczema relief line of skin protectant creams and lotions feature 2% colloidal oatmeal to help soothe the symptoms of eczema like discoloration, itchiness, dryness, roughness, and peeling.
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- friction from rough fabrics like wool
- allergens like pollen, dust mites, and mold
- some dyes and fragrances found in cleaning products or soaps
- cigarette smoke
- cold, dry air
- food allergies
- certain respiratory illnesses like the flu
- stress
To avoid triggering a flare, try to reflect on how your skin feels in different situations, noting what could be a possible trigger. For example, maybe you found yourself feeling extra itchy after wearing a certain sweater or saw more redness or discoloration after trying out a new soap.
This way, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly what’s irritating your skin and eliminate or reduce your exposure to it going forward.
Even if you have the support of your friends and family, being around people who also have eczema can also be comforting, as they’ll understand exactly what you’re going through. Joining a support group also allows you to be social while still working on your mental health.
You can use social media sites to find in-person or virtual meetups, and associations like the NEA can also offer suggestions about finding an eczema community.
If you feel like your social anxiety is becoming debilitating, you can try talking with a therapist or mental health specialist about your feelings. They can offer counseling and targeted strategies to ease your anxiety so you can feel more comfortable socializing and being around others.
You could also consider consulting a dermatologist or an allergist to check whether your eczema symptoms can be further managed, which may also help lessen your anxiety.
Eczema flare-ups can be stressful and anxiety-inducing, leading you to retreat and avoid being around others. But there are a number of ways to lessen your social anxiety, from employing calming mental health strategies to learning how to avoid what triggers your eczema.
You are not alone, and surrounding yourself with people who are understanding and empathetic will further help you make strides with both your anxiety and your eczema.